BACKGROUND: Pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is combined from initial insulin resistance (IR) and subsequent β-cell dysfunction. Insulin therapy can replace β-cell function in advanced stages. However excessive insulin therapy increases IR and may expose the patients to risk of cardiovascular disease. We aim to assess β-cell function and IR in patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy by fasting C-peptide to glucose ratio (FCPGR), and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index respectively to support treatment plans.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Galiawa Diabetes and Endocrinology Teaching Center in Erbil City, Iraq, from June 2023 to January 2024. A convenient sample of 100 patients with T2DM on insulin-based therapy were included after obtaining informed written consent and excluding conditions such as acute illness, uncertain type of diabetes, etc. Each patient was evaluated for anthropometric parameters and current treatment details. Biochemical tests were then carried out to calculate metabolic syndrome (MetS) index score, FCPGR, and TyG index. Finally, patients were divided into four subgroups according to their FCPGR and TyG index and the data were analyzed statistically.
RESULTS: The data showed those patients with sufficient β-cell function were 60 (60%), and patients with high TyG index were 95 (95%). There was a significant negative correlation between FCPGR and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (p-value=0.001), while there was a positive correlation between TyG index and HbA1C (p-value=0.001). None of these markers were correlated with BMI (p-value=0.297, and 0.976), duration of T2DM (p-value=0.258, and 0.458), and dose of insulin therapy (p-value=0.901, and 0.477). Patients with sufficient β-cell function and high TyG index had the lowest HbA1C.
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides valuable insights into the utility of FCPGR and TyG index as biomarkers for β-cell function and insulin resistance in T2DM patients on insulin therapy. The significant correlation with HbA1C underscores their potential in clinical practice. However, the lack of correlation with BMI, disease duration, and insulin dose suggests that further investigation is needed to fully understand these biomarkers\' implications across diverse patient profiles.

UNASSIGNED: Esophageal cancer (EC) causes approximately 508,000 deaths annually, making it a significant cause of cancer-related mortality. While previous studies have suggested an association between lipoprotein levels and EC risk, the causal relationship remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the causal link between lipoproteins and EC using Mendelian randomization (MR).
UNASSIGNED: This study employed MR to determine the causal effect between lipoproteins and EC risk, with body mass index (BMI) used as a confounder in multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the reliability of the results. Univariable MR (UVMR) analysis indicated that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) had a significant inverse association with EC risk (p = 0.03; OR = 0.89; 95%CI, 0.73-0.98), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides showed no significant association. In the synthesis of findings across diverse datasets, LDL maintained a notable inverse association with the likelihood of EC (p < 0.001; OR = 0.89; 95%CI, 0.84-0.94). Triglyceride levels indicated a potential trend toward an adverse correlation with EC susceptibility (p = 0.03; OR = -0.94; 95%CI, 0.89-0.99), whereas HDL levels did not establish a definitive causal link with the occurrence of EC. MVMR analysis, adjusting for BMI, confirmed these findings.
UNASSIGNED: LDL exhibits a clear inverse causal relationship with EC risk, regardless of BMI adjustment. No causal effects were observed for HDL in relation to EC risk. Meanwhile, there is a small but statistically significant causal relationship between triglycerides and EC risk.

This experiment studied the effect of arginine intake on blood pressure and blood variables during weight training in 20 men in their 20s. The resistance exercise program was performed 3 times a week at 60% of one repetition maximum for 8 weeks. The arginine intake group consumed 1,000 mg of arginine 2 tablets per day before weight training for 8 weeks. The placebo group was instructed to consume two of placebo with water, the same as the arginine intake group. After 8 weeks, the day after the end of the resistance exercise program, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, muscle mass, and maximum muscle strength were measured. In changes in systolic blood pressure, the arginine intake group was 118.20±2.40 mmHg, showed a statistically significant decrease compared to the placebo group. Triglyceride in the arginine intake group was 112.62±2.40 mg/dL, showing a statistically significant decrease compared to the placebo group. Based on these results, arginine intake during resistance exercise is judged to have a positive effect on lowering blood pressure, and is also believed to reduce triglycerides, a blood lipid variable, so it is thought to function as a supplement during exercise.

UNASSIGNED: In clinical practice, there are few effective biomarkers for identifying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic value of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) combined with triglyceride (TG) in NAFLD.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 14,415 individuals participated in the annual physical examination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the exposure factors associated with NAFLD. Spearman\'s analysis was performed to assess the correlation among the exposure factors of NAFLD. Furthermore, the diagnostic efficacy of the combination of GPR and TG in NAFLD was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).
UNASSIGNED: The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (OR = 1.619), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (OR = 1.014), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (OR = 1.028), GPR (OR = 12.809), and TG (OR = 2.936) were all risk factors for NAFLD, while HDL-C (OR = 0.215) was a protective factor. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between GPR and SBP, DBP, BMI, TG (p < 0.01), but a negative correlation between GPR and HDL-C (p < 0.01). TG was only positively correlated with GPR (p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve (AUC) of GPR combined with TG for diagnosis of NAFLD was 0.855 (95 % CI: 0.819-0.891), sensitivity was 83.45 % and specificity was 73.56 %.
UNASSIGNED: This study indicated that high levels of GPR and TG were risk factors for NAFLD and demonstrated good clinical value in diagnosing NAFLD.

UNASSIGNED: Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a crucial molecule in the Hippo pathway. The impact of hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout (Yap1 LKO) on hepatic lipid droplets (LD) and pePLIN2 in metabolic fatty liver has not been reported. This study aims to explore whether Yap1 LKO could offer a protective effect in a liver injury model.
UNASSIGNED: Three-week-old Yap1 LKO and Yap1 Flox mice were given aristolochic acid I (AAI) combined carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) establish liver injury model. Eight-week-old Yap1 LKO and Yap1 Flox mice were fed with a high-fat diet for 18 weeks to establish obesity-related liver injury model. Further biochemical, histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and lipidomic analyses were performed on serum and liver tissues of these mice to elucidate the effects of hepatocyte-specific Yap1 knockout on hepatic lipid metabolism.
UNASSIGNED: Yap1 LKO reduced triglyceride (TG) content and PLIN2 expression level in the liver during the intervention of AAI combined CCl4. Moreover, Yap1 LKO improved lipid metabolism homeostasis in the liver by increasing the beneficial lipid molecules and reducing the harmful lipid molecules through lipidomics. Finally, Yap1 LKO reduced TG content in the serum and liver, hepatic vacuolar degeneration, and hepatic PLIN2 expression level in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).
UNASSIGNED: Yap1 LKO is protective in regulating liver and blood TG when induced with toxic substances AAI combined CCl4 and a high-fat diet.

In this study, the expression profiles of miR-148a were constructed in eight different ovine tissues, including mammary gland tissue, during six different developmental periods. The effect of miR-148a on the viability, proliferation, and milk fat synthesis of ovine mammary epithelial cells (OMECs) was investigated, and the target relationship of miR-148a with two predicted target genes was verified. The expression of miR-148a exhibited obvious tissue-specific and temporal-specific patterns. miR-148a was expressed in all eight ovine tissues investigated, with the highest expression level in mammary gland tissue (p < 0.05). Additionally, miR-148a was expressed in ovine mammary gland tissue during each of the six developmental periods studied, with its highest level at peak lactation (p < 0.05). The overexpression of miR-148a increased the viability of OMECs, the number and percentage of Edu-labeled positive OMECs, and the expression levels of two cell-proliferation marker genes. miR-148a also increased the percentage of OMECs in the S phase. In contrast, transfection with an miR-148a inhibitor produced the opposite effect compared to the miR-148a mimic. These results indicate that miR-148a promotes the viability and proliferation of OMECs in Small-tailed Han sheep. The miR-148a mimic increased the triglyceride content by 37.78% (p < 0.01) and the expression levels of three milk fat synthesis marker genes in OMECs. However, the miR-148a inhibitor reduced the triglyceride level by 87.11% (p < 0.01). These results suggest that miR-148a promotes milk fat synthesis in OMECs. The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-148a reduced the luciferase activities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-A (PPARGC1A) in wild-type vectors, suggesting that they are target genes of miR-148a. The expression of miR-148a was highly negatively correlated with PPARGC1A (r = -0.789, p < 0.001) in ovine mammary gland tissue, while it had a moderate negative correlation with DNMT1 (r = -0.515, p = 0.029). This is the first study to reveal the molecular mechanisms of miR-148a underlying the viability, proliferation, and milk fat synthesis of OMECs in sheep.

Introduction Insulin resistance is considered a key component in the pathophysiology of prediabetes. Derangement in lipid parameters can occur in prediabetics that predispose to cardiovascular complications. Material and methods We performed an observational cross-sectional analytical study in a tertiary level Acharya Vinoba Bhave hospital, Sawangi, Wardha to compare the lipid profile in prediabetics with non-prediabetic young individuals between 18 and 35 age group in terms of parameters such as total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Results We observed that prediabetics have significantly elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, and TG; and significantly reduced HDL cholesterol compared with the controls (p<0.001 each). Conclusion We conclude that the lipid parameters are deranged in prediabetics and this might contribute to the risk associated with dyslipidemia in this population.

UNASSIGNED: To explore the relationship between estradiol (E2) and the incidence of hyperuricemia (HUA) in adult women and to explore whether glucolipid metabolism disorders play a mediating role in mediating this relationship.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 2,941 participants aged 20-65 years were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the correlations of E2 with HUA. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between E2 and triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG). The restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to further explore the association between E2 and HUA and between TG, TC, and TyG and HUA. Mediation analyses were performed to examine whether TC, TG, and TyG mediated the relationship between E2 and HUA.
UNASSIGNED: After adjusting for covariates, logistic regression revealed that ln(E2) was significantly associated with HUA in the female subgroup (p = 0.035) and that the incidence of HUA tended to increase with decreasing ln(E2) (p for trend = 0.026). Linear regression showed that E2 was significantly associated with TC (p = 0.032), TG (p = 0.019), and TyG (p = 0.048). The RCS model showed that ln(E2) was linearly correlated with the incidence of HUA (p-overall = 0.0106, p-non-linear = 0.3030). TC and TyG were linearly correlated with HUA (TC: p-overall = 0.0039, p-non-linear = 0.4774; TyG: p-overall = 0.0082, p-non-linear = 0.0663), whereas TG was non-linearly correlated with HUA. Mediation analyses revealed that TC, TG, and TyG significantly mediated the relationship between ln(E2) and HUA (TC, indirect effect: -0.00148, 7.5%, p = 0.008; TG, indirect effect: -0.00062, 3.1%, p = 0.004; TyG, indirect effect: -0.00113, 5.6%, p = 0.016).
UNASSIGNED: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that compared with women aged 20-45 years, women aged 45-55 years and 55-65 years had lower E2 levels and a greater incidence of HUA. E2 levels and the incidence of HUA were negatively associated in female individuals but not in male individuals. In addition, TC, TG, and TyG, which are markers of glucolipid metabolism, played a mediating role in the association between E2 and HUA.

UNASSIGNED: To explore markers that reflect sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) severity and investigate their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents and young adults.
UNASSIGNED: Participants were recruited from our SDB epidemiological cohort. They underwent overnight polysomnography and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Complete blood count, ferritin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between red cell indices (RCIs), ferritin, and obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI). Subgroup analyses on participants with SDB were performed for the association of RCIs and ferritin with lipid profile, hs-CRP, and BP.
UNASSIGNED: There were 88 participants with SDB and 155 healthy controls aged 16-25 years. Hemoglobin (Hb; p < .001), hematocrit (HCT; p < .001), and ferritin (p < .001) were elevated with increasing SDB severity and were independently associated with OAHI (β=1.06, p < .001; β=40.2, p < .001; β=4.89 × 10-3, p = .024, respectively). In participants with SDB, after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, significant associations were found between ferritin with low-density lipoprotein (LDL; β=0.936 × 10-3, p = .008) and triglyceride (TG; β =1.08 × 10-3, p < .001), as well as between Hb (β=1.40, p = .007), HCT (β=51.5, p = .010) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Ferritin (β=0.091, p = .002), Hb (β=0.975, p = .005), and HCT (β=38.8, p = .004) were associated with hs-CRP independent of age, sex, BMI, plasma LDL, and MAP. OAHI was not associated with LDL and TG in the multivariable models.
UNASSIGNED: Serum ferritin, but not OAHI, was associated with LDL and TG in participants with SDB, suggesting it is a potential marker of cardiometabolic risk in patients with SDB.

UNASSIGNED: It is hypothesized that fenugreek seeds are a rich source of fiber with anti-diabetic effects, which can help to lower blood glucose in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, the clinical and metabolic effects of fenugreek were compared to those of metformin in women with PCOS aged 16-40 years.
UNASSIGNED: In a randomized, triple-blind, parallel clinical trial, the efficacy of fenugreek 333 mg (n=55) was compared with metformin 500 mg (n=55), both administered three times a day in women with PCOS of reproductive age. Changes in some clinical outcomes and metabolic laboratory profile outcomes were evaluated at baseline and two months after the study.
UNASSIGNED: By the end of the intervention period, all investigated factors improved significantly in patients of both groups (p<0.05). Reduction in biometric indices (body mass index and waist-hip ratio), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin resistance was significantly higher after metformin consumption (p<0.001). Metformin also significantly improved irregular menstruation (p=0.02). In contrast, fenugreek significantly improved patients\' lipid profiles, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) compared to metformin (p<0.001). Both interventions improved the patient\'s hair loss and hirsutism.
UNASSIGNED: Fenugreek cannot substitute metformin in PCOS treatment. However, regarding its lipid-lowering ability and low frequency of adverse effects, it can be used as an adjuvant treatment in PCOS, especially in PCOS patients with hyper-lipidemia and severe hair loss.